Streak retinoscope



April 22, 1969 w. c. MOORE ET AL 3,439,978

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INVENToR.

WILLIAM C. MOORE Y WILLIAM S. PILGRIM United States Patent O 3,439,978STREAK RETINOSCOPE William C. Moore, Skaneateles, and William S.Pilgrim,

Port Byron, N.Y., assignors to Welch Allyn, Inc.,

Skaneateles Falls, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 27, 1965,Ser. No. 483,230 Int. Cl. A61b 3/10 U.S. Cl. 351-6 6 Claims ABSTRACT FTHE DISCLOSURE A streak retinoscope handle is secured to the reducedneck of a hea-d by a nut bearing against a split ring in a groove aroundthe neck. A sleeve manipulatable axially and rotatably through handleslots carries a lamp for illuminating a lens and mirror in the head.Spring contacts connect one lamp terminal to one side of -a handleelectric source, the other terminal being connected to the other side byinsulated means includingr a coil spring axially of the freely rotatablesleeve. Fiber bundles carry light to distal fixation targets and theviewing lens holder is removable for corrective lens replacement.

This invention relates to a retinoscope and more particularly to astreak retinoscope in which a streak or bar of light can be focused andcontinuously adjusted at any angle a full 360 about the horizontal orvertical by a single control member in the handle of the instrument.

Streak retinoscopy, as distinguished from spot retinoscopy, has certainadvantages in measuring the refractive state of the eye, not only indetermining the axis of astigmatism, but also in detecting and measuringhyperopia and myopia. In streak retinoscopy a streak or bar of light, asdistinguished from a spot of light, is focused at the eye. For efficientexamination, the streak should be easily controllable by the physicianfor focusing the streak at the ldesired distance and the size andangular disposition of the streak must also be readily controllable.Retinoscopy requires that the streak be rotatable from a 90 dispositionto a 180 disposition and it is frequently necessary to rotate thestre-ak 180 from either of the starting dispositions. Full 360rotatability is advantageous in that time is saved when the streak canbe rotated in any direction to the desired starting point.

A single control for both focus and angular disposition is advantageousand the control should be easy to manipulate but firmly maintained inposition once it is adjusted.

Since the patient must look to one side or the other of the physiciansline of sight it is also advantageous to provide target spots on theretinoscope on which the patient can focus so that the physician canexamine the pupil area of the eye without interruption. By providingsuch target spots on the retinoscope itself, they are always availablewithout lights or other easily distinguishable objects being secured atchosen points around the physicians office in relation to the examiningchair, an arrangement which confines the physician to one particularposition for examination.

Freedom in his choice of position and freedom in the use of his handsfor the physician is also increased when the angular disposition of thelight emitting head of the retinoscope is angularly adjustable withrespect to the position of the light controlling means of theinstrument.

Individual physicians may 4desire a corrective lens adapted for his use.The viewing lens therefore should be easily replaceable but preciselylocated.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a streakretinoscope with the above noted advantages.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a streakretinoscope having a single control means for focusing the streak andproviding 360 rotatability of the streak which control means is easy tomanipulate and firmly held in place, once adjusted.

A further object is to provide such control means in a retinoscope whichhas a head easily adjusted angularly with respect to the control means.

A still further object is to provide a retinoscope having easilyidentified target spots on the distal side thereof for catching andsecuring the patients attention.

Still another object is to provide a retinoscope having a viewing lensthat is easily replaceable according to the physicians requirements.

Other objects and advantages will become -apparent from the followingdescription in conjunction with the appended drawing, in which:

FIGURE l is a side elevational view of -a retinoscope according to theinvention;

FIGURE ,2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of the lamp controlportion of the handle thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the head portion thereof ona smaller scale;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary side elevational View, on the same scale asFIGURE 3, partly in section, of the portion shown in FIGURE 2 rotated90; and

FIGURE 5 is a proximal side elevational view of the 4head portion,partly broken away for clarity.

In the drawings, the retinoscope 10 comprises a conventional powerhandle 11, a control portion handle-extension 12, and a head 13.

Handle 11 is shown as -a cord handle, the cord 14 being adapted to carrylow voltage current to conventional terminals in the handle.Alternatively, a battery handle having its own batteries for supplyingcurrent for the lamp may be used.

The control portion handle extension 12 has a metal outer sleeve member15 provided at its lower end with a threaded boss 16 adapted to bescrewed into the internal threads of one terminal of the socket-type endof power handle 11. Boss 16 has a threaded axially-extending bore 17therethrough and into this bore is screwed a tubular fixed contactsleeve 18 which projects from boss 16 at either end.

The lower projecting end of sleeve 18 is provided with a contact element19 adapted to contact the usual insulated center terminal of the powerhandle 11. Element 19 comprises an outer ring member 19a of insulatingmaterial secured in the central bore of sleeve 118. \A metal contactportion 19b is secured in the central passage of ring 219a so as toproject outwardly therefrom.

The upper end of sleeve 1.8i carries another insulating ring 20 securedin the bore thereof. An insulated wire 21 has one end soldered orotherwise secured to the contact 119b of element 19 and extends upthrough sleeve 18 and has an exposed end extending through the ring 2.0where it is secured to another metal contact as 'will hereinafterappear.

The upper end of boss 16 terminates in a tubular guide portion 22 ofmember 15. -At the other end of the outer sleeve member 15, a similartubular guide portion 23 is provided and guide portions 22 and 23 areconnected on opposite sides of the sleeve by narrow strip portions 24.Between the strips 24 are slots or access windows 25, best seen inFIGURE 4, through which the physician can manipulate a control sleeve216.

The control sleeve 26 fits loosely inside the slotted outer sleeve 15and is shorter than the outer sleeve but extends from the interior ofthe tubular portion 22 to the interior of tubular portion 213. Sleeve`26 is of metal and has a knurled outer surface intermediate its ends.The

3 control sleeve is provided at either end with annular bearing washers27 of plastic material which snap over the ends of the sleeve 26, asshown, and which center the control sleeve inside the outer sleeve 15.

Adjacent the bearing Washers 27, each end of the control sleeve isprovided with an annular slot in which are engaged a split ring springband 28 and a split ring contact band 29, the later band around thefirst, as shown. The spring bands 28 extend only around approximately4/5 of the circumference of the control sleeve 26 and are biasedstrongly outward so that outward pressure is exerted on the contactbands 29 at at least three perimetrically spaced points therearound.Contact bands 29 extend substantially completely around the controlsleeve and are biased outwardly by the spring bands to insure a goodfrictional grip and electrical contact between sleeves and 26 at alltimes.

Control sleeve 26 has an axially extending bore 30 which, at its upperend, partially contains the lamp 31. The lamp is a conventional streakretinoscope lamp having a lfilament 32 extending on three sides of arectangle axially of bore 30 so as to provide a bar or streak of lightwhen viewed axially.

Bore 30 adjacent the upper end of sleeve 26 is con` stricted at 33 andthreaded so as to receive the threaded end of lamp 3'1 and its axiallyprojecting central terminal 34.

Below the constricted portion 3'3, bore 30` extends the major portion ofthe length of sleeve 26 and has secured therein, as by a slide fit, asubstantially tubular control sleeve insulator 35. Insulator 35 has anaxially extending central passage 36 into which the upper portion of theiixed Contact sleeve 18 extends.

Also carried in the passage 36 are a fixed contact 40 and a lampcontacting element 41 connected by extension coil spring 42. Each of thecontacts 40 and `41 have a seat in which one end of spring 42 is engagedand the contacts and spring are axially aligned by the passage 36.Element 41 has a stem 43 slidably engaged in a constricted portion 44 ofthe passage 36 at the upper end of insulator 35. The stem 43 is heldconstantly in electrical contact with the central terminal 34 of lamp 31by the pressure of spring 42 and contacts 40 and 41 are constantlyelectrically connected by the spring.

Contact 40 is of metal and has a pendant pin portion 40a which is forceddown into the ring 20 in electrical contact with the exposed end of wire21 so that contact element 41 is constantly in electrical contact withthe contact -19b when control sleeve 26 is moved axially within theouter sleeve 415. In addition, the bias of spring 42 is in oppoistion tothe weight of control sleeve 26 and assists in maintaining the movingparts in adjusted position when the retinoscope is in use.

The upper guide portion 23 of the outer sleeve is exteriorly threaded,as shown, and stop ring 45 is secured interiorly of the guide portion bythe set screw 46. Stop ring 45 prevents the control sleeve 26 from beingmoved out of the outer sleeve `15 but allows axial movement of thecontrol sleeve in the outer sleeve and therefore, movement of the lamp31 in the head 13.

Lamp 31 projects befond the end of the outer sleeve 15 and axialmovement of the control sleeve upward in FIG- URE 2 moves the lampfarther out of the outer sleeve into a central axial passage 48 in theneck portion 49 of the head 13. As best seen in FIGURE 3, the neck 49 isprovided with a nut or threaded sleeve 50` for securing the head to thethreaded end of the outer sleeve I15.

Nut 50 may be slid over the end of neck 49 and then a split ringshoulder member 51 is snapped into an annular groove 52 providedadjacent the end of the neck. The top surface of shoulder member 51 istapered outwardly and downwardly, as in the top of the nut `50 whichengages it. As the nut 50 draws the end of neck 49 into engagement withthe end of outer sleeve 15, the split ring shoulder member 51 is therebycammed more firmly into its groove 52 for providing a firm shoulder forthe nut. Should the angular position of the head I13 require adjustmentwith respect to the location of windows 25 on the handle extension y12,the nut `50 can be manually loosened so that the head may be turned andthen the nut tightened again.

The head 13 has a transverse viewing passage 54 therethrough and acondensing lens 55 is secured in the usual manner in a lens holder y56secured by a screw 57 in the end of passage 48 adjacent the passage 54.An annular mirror holder '58 is secured against suitable shoulders inthe viewing passage 54 by a tab plate 59, as shown, the tab plate alsobeing held in place by the screw 57 (FIG. 4). A mirror 60 harving a.central viewing orifice therein is secured by adhesive in the holder 58at a substantially angle in passage 54 so as to reflect and focus lightpassing through the lens 55 from lamp 31 transversely out of the passage54 onto the eye of the patient.

The front, or proximal side, of the head 13 is closed by a plate 61 heldin place by a plurality of screws 57 (FIG. 5) and a viewing lens 62secured in a lens holder 63 is provided in back of the mirror 60 so thatthe physician may look through the mirror into the patients eye. As anovel feature, lens holder 63 is provided with a threaded neck engagedin an appropriately threaded hole in plate 61 so that the physician mayconveniently remove the lens 62 and substitute another when desired. Acorrective lens adapted to the individual physicians eye may be used.

A rubber spectacle or forehead rest 64 is provided at the top of theinstrument head along the back plate 61.

Another novel feature is provided by a bundle 65 of coatedlight-transmitting glass fibers secured, as by adhesive, in head 13 oneither side of the head. Each bundle extends upward from a suitable holein the head intersecting passage 48, the lower end having a polishedlightreceiving surface 66 substantially flush With the wall of passage48. Adjacent the perimeter of the proximal side of the head, as shown inFIGURE 5, the bundle emerges in a passage 67, FIGURE 5, molded in theproximal side of the head and adapted to be covered by the plate 61.From its passage 67 each bundle 65 extends to a shouldered hole 68having a constricted orilice 70 (FIG. 1) in the side of the head facingdistally. The upper end of bundle 65 is angled sharply as indicated andhas a polished light emitting surface facing distally.

In the shouldered holes 68, located substantially at the level ofviewing lens 62 on either side of the head, green and red filters 71 and72, respectively, are secured adjacent the orifice 70. A split ringretainer in each hole 68 secures each filter in place against theshoulder of its hole 68 and the polished light emitting end of bundle 65is secured against the surface of the filter within the retainer byadhesive means or otherwise.

In operation, the retinoscope is grasped in one hand and held at thedesired distance from the patients eye. The head may be loosened bybacking off the nut and turning head in respect to the handle so thatthe physicians thumb and forefinger may more conveniently grasp thecontrol sleeve 26 through the windows 25. The head is then tightened inits preferred orientation. Lamp 31 is turned on by a switch (not shown)in the power handle 11.

By moving the control sleeve 26 axially of the handle, the lamp 31 isadvanced toward or moved away from lens and mirror 60 for focusing thestreak of light at the patients eye to the desired width or thickness.Contact bands 29 are pressed firmly against the tubular guide portionsof the outer sleeve 15 by the spring bands 28 to maintain at all timesthe desired axial adjustment of the control sleeve. At the same time thelamp 31 remains lit since the circuit is maintained from the powerhandle 11 central terminal, contact 19b, wire 21, Contact 40, spring 42,contact 41, lamp terminals, control sleeve 26, bands 28 and 29, outersleeve 15 and the threaded terminal of handle 11.

As the control sleeve and lamp are advanced and turned from the positionshown in FIGURE 2 to the position shown in FIGURE 4, the stern 43 ofcontact 41 remains in contact with the central terminal 34 of the lamp.Contacts 19h and 41 remain electrically connected through the spring 42which lengthens.

The bar filament 32 of lamp 31 lies in a single plane containing the-axis of the handle extension 12 so that, as the control sleeve 26 isrotated, the streak of light passing through lens 55 and reflected andfocused by the mirror 60 is caused to rotate. Since there is noobstruction to the rotation of the control sleeve for a full 360 thestreak may be rotated through any angle desired.

While the lamp 31 is lit, casual light is conveyed by the bundles 65 tothe filters 71 and 72 in the orifices 70 so that the patient has aconcentration or focusing point conveniently located on the instrumentto the right or left of the physicians line of sight.

As will be apparent to those familiar with the art, the invention can beembodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit oressential characteristics thereof. The embodiment disclosed is thereforeto be considered in all respects as illustrative rather thanrestrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a retinoscope having a bar filament lamp, a mirror for reflectinglight from the lamp, and a condensing lens between lamp and mirror, thecombination of a slotted tubular handle, a control sleeve axiallyslidable and freely rotatable within the handle, an insulated axialpassage in the sleeve, terminals on the handle electrically connected toa source of electricity, one terminal being electrically connected to anelectrically conductive portion of the handle and the other terminalbeing electrically connected to a fixed contact in the sleeve passage,the lamp being carried on the sleeve, means for electrically connectingone lamp terminal to the conductive portion of the sleeve, and insulatedelectrical connecting means in contact with the other lamp terminal andcarried in the passage, the insulated connecting means including acompression coil spring in contact with the fixed contact in thepassage, whereby the sleeve is digitally manipulatable through thehandle slots for axial movement of the lighted lamp and capable ofunlimited rotation of the lamp.

2. A streak retinoscope having a comparatively large head and a handleof smaller diameter, the head having a transverse Viewing passage and anintersecting axial passage, a condensing lens and a mirror forreflecting light from the lens in the axial passage, a slotted tubularhandle, the head having a reduced neck secured to the handle, a controlsleeve axially and freely rotatably movable within the handle, aninsulated axially extending passage in the sleeve, terminals on one endof the handle electrically connected to a source of electricity, oneterminal being electrically connected to the handle and the otherterminal being electrically connected to a fixed contact mounted on thehandle within the sleeve passage, a bar filament lamp being carried onthe sleeve at the other end of the handle, spring means associated withthe sleeve for electrically connecting sleeve and handle and forfrictionally positioning the sleeve in the handle, one lamp terminalbeing in electrical contact With the sleeve, an insulated terminal inthe sleeve passage in contact with the other lamp terminal, and springmeans in the sleeve passage electrically connecting the insulatedterminal and the fixed conta-ct and biasing the insulated terminalagainst the lamp terminal, the handle slots being of such size as toadapt the sleeve for digital manipulation therethrough, whereby thesleeve is axially movable to carry the lamp toward and away from thelens for focusing light from the lamp and the sleeve is completelyrotatable for rotating streak light in either direction to any desiredangle by manipulation of the sleeve through the handle slots.

3. A retinoscope as defined in claim 2 having means for securing thehandle to the head comprising: an annular slot around the neck, a splitring in the slot having an annular portion projecting radially of theslot, and a nut having an inwardly projecting flange at one end aroundthe neck adapted to engage the projecting portion of the split ring, thenut being adapted at its other end for threaded engagement with thehandle, the ring projecting portion and the nut flange having engagingsurfaces tapered outwardly toward the handle for locking the split ringin the groove.

4. The retinoscope as defined in claim 2 having a viewing lens in theproximal end of the viewing passage, the lens being carried in anannular lens holder, the lens holder having a restricted threaded neckportion engaged in a threaded hole inthe head so as to be easilyremovable from the head and replaceable .by another holder having acorrective lens therein.

5. The retinoscope as defined in claim 3 and having target orifices inthe distal side of the head thereof on either side of the viewingpassage, a colored filter secured at each orifice, and a bundle ofcoated light-transmitting glass fibers in either side of the head, eachbundle having a lightemissive surfa-ce facing the filter and a lightreceptive surface at the axial passage for receiving light from the lampand lighting up the filters.

6. In a diagnostic instrument having a separable head and handle, thehead having a reduced neck adapted to be secured to the handle, the headhaving light-transmitting means for directing light in a transversedirection radial of the handle and the handle having digitally operatedlight control means located at limited portions of the handle perimeter,means for releasably and adjustably securing head to handle, comprising:the neck having an annular slot therearound, a split ring in the slothaving an annular portion projecting radially of the slot, and a nuthaving an inwardly projecting flange at one end around the neck adaptedto engage the projecting portion of the split ring, the nut beingadapted at its other end for threaded engagement with the handle, thering projecting portion and the nut flange having engaging surfacestapered outwardly toward the handle for locking the split ring in thegroove.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,066,386 7/1913 DeZeng S51-61,720,035 7/ 1927 DeZeng 351-6 1,804,151 5/1931 Copeland 351-141,889,456 l 1/1932 Tillyer 351-6 1,981,214 11/1934 Allyn 351-112,586,973 2/ 1952 McMilln 351-7 DAVID SCHONBERG, Primary Examiner.

P. A. SACHER, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. S51-10, l2, 13, 16

U.S. DEPARTMENT 0F COMMERCE PATENT OFFICE washington, D c. 20231 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent NO 3 ,439 ,978April 22 1969 William C. Moore et al.

It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent andthat said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 6l, "befond" should read beyond Column 6, line 27, claimreference numeral "3" should read 2 Signed and sealed this 14th day ofApril 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr,

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents WILLIAMP E. SCHUYLER, JR.

